Why PACT?

PACT was created in response to a South African climate that remains hostile towards transgender people.

The challenges faced by trans people in South Africa include, but are not limited to:

Heavily gatekept access to gender affirming health services, in both the public and private sectors

Lengthy waiting periods for amendment of legal documentation

Prejudice and discrimination in interactions with all kinds of service providers who have not been sensitised to trans issues

A lack of awareness and understanding of non-binary identities

Insufficient representation by transgender people in decision making processes about transgender legislation

Discrimination in finding and retaining employment

Social prejudice

It is our hope that through the establishment and maintenance of a professional body, consisting of both trans-identified individuals and supportive allies, we will be able to leverage this platform to engage with government departments, service providers and civil society to improve sensitivity towards transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.